I am a plastic surgeon in Little Rock, AR. I used to "suture for a living", I continue "to live to sew". These days most of my sewing is piecing quilts. I love the patterns and interplay of the fabric color. I would like to explore writing about medical/surgical topics as well as sewing/quilting topics. I will do my best to make sure both are represented accurately as I share with both colleagues and the general public.

Quilts of Valor

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Wednesday, September 19, 2007

My 14 year old female Labrador, Girlfriend, died today. She had quit eating for a couple of days. [Well, she would still eat hot dogs, but not her dog food.] Not a good sign in a Labrador. So I had taken her to her veterinarian yesterday who discovered that she had a low Hct and bleeding in her abdomen from a splenic tumor. [She had just had her yearly exam in mid-July.] So she was scheduled for exploratory surgery this morning. It was bad. The splenic tumor (Canine Hemangiosarcoma) had seeded metastasis all over her abdomen. Her liver was nearly destroyed due to mets. Bill (Dr. Ormsby) called me to give me the news. I asked if I could come and be with her as he gave her the euthanasia injection, and that is what we did. I guess it was a "good death" for her. She was surrounded by people who loved and cared for her.

All this going on and she had never whimpered, never complained. Even Monday evening she had wanted to go on our daily walk which I let her do (though I shortened it and really slowed the pace). She continued to shadow me as I went from room to room at home doing chores or just getting something from another room. My husband called her my "six foot radius" dog, because she hated not being with me. She had such heart! I really miss her.

12 comments:

We are dog people in my home (three currently)and seeing the boys and girls off when their time has come is hard; I'm glad you were there for the euthanasia. It's the only way. I'm very sorry for your loss.

R, I'm so sorry about your beloved dog. It's amazing how dogs carry on with such terrible afflictions and never show it.My Westie was the same. Stopped eating suddenly and the vet found a huge mass in her abdomen which must have been pressing on her stomach for ages. I too held her in my arms when she was injected. One of the hardest things I have ever done. We had her for fifteen years.regardsjmb

First of all my heart-felt condolence on the loss of your pet. Dogs become part of the family after a few days. i can see, that you have been caring for her form the beginning. The fact that you grew two dogs shows that, you are sensitive enough to care for their feelings and needs. Girl friend would have enjoyed her life thoroughly, i am sure. It is sad all good things have to come to an end. i feel bad for Rusty too. i am sure he will miss her more than any of us - smalltowndoc.wordpress.com

I'm not a pet person, but I can feel the personal loss that you have so eloquently brought out in this farewell post. My sympathies. I'm sure you'll have some great memories of the years that you spent with your friend. Regards, Vijay.

Oh Ramona, I am so sorry. I just saw this post. You know my heart goes out to you. I feel your loss. I just spent last night crying over my dog that passed 3 yrs. ago. I saw a picture of him, and that was all it took. It just feels like your heart will come right out of your chest. I a am so sorry I didn't see this sooner. Huge hugs to you.((( )))

that was so sad. :( i'm really sorry for your loss - she was your companion for 14 years, so that must have been very hard.

i don't come from a dog-loving culture so those of us who get really attached to our dogs are poorly understood. my non-dog-loving friends wonder why i cried over our family German shepherd when he passed on. but dogs are almost like people in the way they deal with you, and they are sorely missed when they go.

i hope your other, rusty, has already recovered, too. he would have been hit the hardest.

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